Distance independent gesture detection

Abstract

A method for measuring motion may include moving an object in a field of view of an image sensor array, producing two-dimensional motion information of the object from an output of the image sensor array, and measuring a distance between the object and the image sensor array. The method may further include correcting the motion information based on the measured distance.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for measuring motion comprising:
 moving an object in a field of view of an image sensor array;   producing two-dimensional motion information of the object from an output of the image sensor array;   measuring a distance between the object and the image sensor array; and   correcting the motion information based on the measured distance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein measuring the distance comprises measuring the distance with an optical time of flight sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein producing comprises producing a two-dimensional motion vector as the motion information; wherein correcting comprises correcting the motion vector linearly based on the measured distance; and further comprising adding a third dimension to the corrected motion vector based on the measured distance. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 responding to the corrected motion information when the measured distance is below a threshold; and 
 ignoring the motion information when the measured distance is above the threshold. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 responding to the corrected motion information when the measured distance is above a threshold; and 
 ignoring the motion information when the measured distance is below the threshold. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein measuring comprises measuring the distance between the object and the image sensor array using a distance sensor comprising at least one Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining a gesture associated with the object based upon the corrected motion information. 
     
     
         8 . A system for measuring motion of an object comprising:
 an image sensor array;   a distance sensor configured to measure a distance between the object and the image sensor array;   a motion sensor connected to the image sensor array and configured to produce motion information of the object; and   a correction circuit connected to the motion sensor and the distance sensor and configured to correct the motion information based on the distance measured by the distance sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said distance sensor comprises an optical time of flight sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a pulsed infrared laser emitter, and wherein said optical time of flight sensor and said image sensor array are responsive to the infrared laser emitter. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said distance sensor comprises at least one Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD). 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a processor coupled to the correction circuit and configured to determine a gesture associated with the object based upon the corrected motion information. 
     
     
         13 . A mobile electronic device comprising:
 an image sensor array;   a distance sensor configured to measure a distance between the object and the image sensor array;   a motion sensor connected to the image sensor array and configured to produce motion information of the object; and   a correction circuit connected to the motion sensor and the distance sensor and configured to correct the motion information based on the distance measured by the distance sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 13  wherein said distance sensor comprises an optical time of flight sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 14  further comprising a pulsed infrared laser emitter, and wherein said optical time of flight sensor and said image sensor array are responsive to the infrared laser emitter. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 13  wherein said distance sensor comprises at least one Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD). 
     
     
         17 . The mobile electronic device of  claim 13  further comprising a processor coupled to the correction circuit and configured to determine a gesture associated with the object based upon the corrected motion information. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a mobile electronic device comprising an image sensor array to perform steps comprising:
 producing two-dimensional motion information for an object moving in a field of view of the image sensor array based upon an output of the image sensor array;   measuring a distance between the object and the image sensor array; and   correcting the motion information based on the measured distance.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein the electronic device further comprises an optical time of flight sensor; and wherein measuring the distance comprises measuring the distance with an optical time of flight sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein producing comprises producing a two-dimensional motion vector as the motion information; wherein correcting comprises correcting the motion vector linearly based on the measured distance; and further having computer-executable instructions for causing the electronic device to add a third dimension to the corrected motion vector based on the measured distance. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18  further having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile electronic device to perform steps comprising:
 responding to the corrected motion information when the measured distance is below a threshold; and 
 ignoring the motion information when the measured distance is above the threshold. 
 
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18  further having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile electronic device to perform steps comprising:
 responding to the corrected motion information when the measured distance is above a threshold; and 
 ignoring the motion information when the measured distance is below the threshold. 
 
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein measuring comprises measuring the distance between the object and the image sensor array based upon a distance sensor comprising at least one Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD). 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18  further having computer-executable instructions for causing the mobile electronic device to determine a gesture associated with the object based upon the corrected motion information.